An Adolescent Parents' Programme to Reduce Child Abuse. (30th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McHugh, Margaret T.; Kvernland, Alexandra; Palusci, Vincent J.
• Is Part Of: Child abuse review. Volume 26:Number 3(2017:May/Jun.)
• Page Start: 184
• Page End: 195
• Publication Date: 2015-12-30
• Subjects: adolescent parents -- teen mothers -- child abuse -- health outcomes; Child abuse -- Periodicals; Child abuse -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Abused children -- Services for -- Periodicals; Abused children -- Services for -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1002/car.2426
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-9136

Abstract

Abstract : Teen pregnancy is a significant social, political and economic issue, and potential adverse outcomes for children of adolescent mothers include a higher incidence of low birth weight, prematurity, developmental delays, cognitive and behavioural deficits, and school failure. These children are also at a greater risk for abuse and neglect as well as intentional injury by their adolescent mothers. We evaluated child abuse reporting and the health outcomes for infants and their adolescent parents in Bellevue Hospital's Adolescent Parenting Program to assess whether better outcomes were achieved for mother‐baby dyads in our adolescent mothers' groups compared to the general clinic and New York City populations. We found that those who completed a full year of the programme during 2011–12 had some significantly improved measures compared to those who did not, with fewer child abuse reports and more well‐baby visits, more immunisations and earlier referral for developmental delays. There were additional health benefits for the adolescent mothers noted as well. We concluded that a specialised programme for high‐risk adolescent mothers and their babies offers a number of benefits compared to standard separate care, but more research and funding are needed to tailor programmes to the unique needs of adolescent mothers in diverse social and educational contexts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages: Adolescent parents have increased risk for several adverse child health and development outcomes for their children, including child abuse and neglect. An adolescent parenting programme focusing on simultaneous medical care for teen parents and their infants with multidisciplinary staff can provide important support and guidance to help teen parents improve their parenting skills. Additional benefits of simultaneous care include improved child immunisation rates and developmental outcomes and decreased reported abuse and neglect. 'Adolescent parents have increased risk for several adverse child health and development outcomes for their children' 'We evaluated child abuse reporting and the health outcomes for infants and their adolescent parents in Bellevue Hospital's Adolescent Parenting Program'